“I don't know what happened to Finley,” he said. “The last thing I heard was that Ethel kept him alive, but that was about ten years ago.”
“I need to find him.” I stood up. My Finley. I wanted badly to break out of my captivity and to go rescue him. I wanted to be close to him again, to be at his side so that we could avenge Jesse's death.
“You can't do that. All Deamhan think you are dead.” Reading my thoughts, Ayden spoke. “You need to rest, Maris. It takes a Deamhan your age several days to heal from Hibernation.”
I traced my finger along a small crack on the slab. “I'm still hungry.”
“Of course you are.” Ayden straightened his clothing. “I'll have someone come down and give you blood, but first,” he walked over to the bars, “you will get some rest.”
I stopped tracing the crack. “I want the blood fresh, from the vein.”
“Of course.”
“And afterwards, I am going to find Finley.” I slammed my hand on the slab and in Deamhan speed I rushed up to him. “You won't stop me,” I snarled. “I won't allow you to.”
He stood up straight. “After you've rested.”
I made sure he read my dark thoughts about wanting to separate his head from his body if he stood in my way.
“Things are moving now,” he said. “You need to be at full strength.”
I stepped away from the bars. “I'm hungry. Go fetch me blood.”
He came back as promised with an older woman. I fed on her and with nothing to do in my cell, I sat in the corner of the room, thinking about how I needed to find my amulet and locate Finley.
When morning came I fell asleep and when night arrived I awoke, noticing that my body felt stiff and rigid again. My jaw ached, my eyesight wavered and I had trouble focusing on Ayden standing outside my cell. After rising to my feet, he opened the door and stepped to the side. “I think it's time you got out of here.”
At first I thought he planned to free me and before I left the cell, he placed his hand on my chest. “You won't survive the night if you run to the city in search of Finley.” He closed the door behind me and motioned for me to follow him.
We walked down the narrow hallway until we reached a brick wall. He placed his hands on it and began to rub until one of them gave away. I heard the sound of bricks scraping against the floor as the wall moved back, revealing the basement of a home. I continued to follow him up the steps and toward a front door when he stopped me.
“Stay here. I'll be back.” He immediately went back down the stairs. I waited alone, eying the environment around me. This wasn't any ordinary home. I was in a sanctuary, perhaps his sanctuary. First thing I noticed was its immaculate condition. It was a split level home with polished floors and clean walls. Incense cones burned in a small effigy of a tree hanging off the wall nearby. A long, red carpet extended from the entry and up the stairs.
I caught the scents of other Deamhan around me and when I looked up at the second story, I saw three of them: two females and a male, looking down at me. Feeling uncomfortable, I looked away and toward the front door. For twenty years they held me in that small tomb, on a slab, like a piece of meat. I dreamed of Jesse and although I felt that those dreams helped me in my Hibernation, it didn't take away the fact that he was dead and never coming back.
One of the Deamhan, a Ramanga female, descended the stairs. She reached to the wall at a switch and upon flicking it up, light illuminated around me, revealing that I wasn't alone. They were all around me—standing on the stairs, in the hallway, to my right, and my left. Ramanga, Lamia, Metusba, and Lugat Deamhan, all young and new. I recognized none of them.
She opened her mouth slightly, showing her fangs as she took in my scent. “So this is Maris. She doesn't smell that old. I expected her to be different, taller.”
I scanned all of them, taking mental notes on their appearances and their scents.
The other male, a Metusba, accompanied him. “Look at her scar.” He pointed and—refusing to be viewed as some abnormality—I turned my head to the left to conceal it.
“Ayden says she's important,” the Ramanga spoke. “I'm curious as to why.”
I looked at the Metusba, noticing that his clothing that didn't resemble anything from the 1920s. He wore a loose-fitting white shirt, dark slacks, and a tie. The women wore dresses that extended beyond their knees. They all looked clean and impressive.
“Leave me alone,” I said to them.
“Or what?” the Ramanga replied. “You're supposed to be this important Deamhan. We'd all love to know why.”
“Oh yes, that.”
“Yes. That.” The Metusba straightened his body posture and clasped his hands together. “Just for the record, we don't believe that you're as important as they say you are.”
Before I could reply, the Ramanga said, “She's the reason for this war.”
“I've seen scarier Ramanga,” the Metusba added.
I wanted Ayden to return immediately before the conversation turned into something that could only be resolved by fighting.
The Ramanga stepped up to me. Her scent carried an older aroma but it didn't intimidate me in the least. Her eyes turned black and she leaned in. “I want to see what she can do—”
I reached out and grabbed her by the neck, immediately flipping her onto the floor. She moved to get up but I placed my foot on her neck to keep her still. The other Deamhan moved in and the sound of our commotion made Ayden rush up the stairs.
“Stop this.” He pushed me back against the wall and he moved himself in the middle.
The Ramanga jumped to her feet.
“What have I told you about starting fights?” Ayden spoke in a stern tone. “Go back to what you all were doing before I make you all regret your actions.”
She glared at me with riled eyes before she moved back, giving us room. Ayden dropped his hand from my chest. “We can go now.”
I blinked slowly. It took every inch of my body to calm the rage that began to. “Why did you leave me alone? Where did you go?”
He led me down the front corridor. “I had to make sure that things were in place.” He opened the door. We stepped outside and onto the porch. “All of them are products of this war. They've heard of you: the Deamhan to end all Deamhan.”
“You know I wouldn't do that.”
“I know but they don't. After your supposed demise, Ethel rallied Deamhan from around the region to join her in her fight against those who want to see an end to our species, particularly The Brotherhood. They've been fighting ever since.”
He didn't take me to Chicago. Instead, Ayden decided that it would suit us both to go to a small town located a few miles from the sanctuary and about fifty miles from the city. Here he said that we would be safe and out of view from Ethel's human minions who numbered in the hundreds in the city.
The small town consisted of only three small blocks in which the main route traveled through. He took me to a small cafe where we sat near the back, away from human customers. A female waitress handed us menus and Ayden thanked her quietly.
“They have really good food here,” he said as he scanned the menu.
I tossed my menu aside. “How would you know that? We don't eat.”
“We can eat,” he replied. “We just have to regurgitate it.” He placed his menu on the table and pointed to the picture of scrambled eggs and toast. “I like chewing eggs.”
His proclamation about food astounded me. “If what you said was true, why would any Deamhan bother?”
“It's the act, not the outcome,” he replied. “For me, it reminds me of my human years.” He folded his hands together. “You don't have to order if you don't want to. That's not the reason why I brought you here.”
“Then why did you bring me here? I thought it wasn't safe to leave the sanctuary?”
“Butch, the researcher, has finally found the part of the Dark Curse tablet,” he said. “The Brotherhood moved it to their new headquarters in Chicago.”
<
br /> “They have a headquarters in the city?”
“Yes. Like I said, a lot has happened since the day you were left to die.” He eyed the environment. “Ethel's a danger to every human and Deamhan and there isn't anyone to stop her.”
“There isn't a balance.”
“No, there isn't. As far as I know, she doesn't know that The Brotherhood has the other piece and they don't know that she doesn't know that. So once Butch steals it from The Brotherhood, the plan is for him to take it as far away from Chicago as he can.”
“Why doesn't he just destroy it?”
“The Ancient Deamhan don't want it to be destroyed.”
“Why?”
Ayden shrugged. “I don't question these things. I just do what I'm told.”
“Yes.” I began to mock him. “Just like how you were to supposed to be in New York when I arrived with Finley decades ago. At least, that's what Silvanus made me believe.”
“If I remember correctly, she was supposed to greet you. But that concern is better left for Silvanus to answer,” he replied. “Since you are now awake, he will come to you.”
“Silvanus is in Chicago?”
The waitress returned and Ayden ordered the item on the menu that caught his eye earlier. I refused to order anything and she left.
“He will be soon.” He reached out and placed his hand on my head. “I've been your guardian since you were placed in Hibernation. I watched you for those years. I swept the dust away from your face. I clothed you and bathed you while you lay like a solid statue, unmovable. We've waited for the right time to wake you.”
“You never told me. Who put me in Hibernation?” I asked. “You're not old enough to have the power to do that and Silvanus isn't in Chicago so.” I leaned in close. “Was it that Ancient female Deamhan?”
“She is going to rip the important information about the Curse from your mind.”
I pulled back. “Rip?”
“Yes. The goal is to take that from your mind so that you will no longer be connected to it.”
“That's ridiculous.” I laughed.
“Remember, she is the same Deamhan who forced you to sleep for twenty years.”
He had a valid point. I stopped laughing. “Who is she?”
Ayden sat back in the booth and he looked out through the window at humans walking by. “Kyra.”
I heard the name before, coming from Butch's mouth the night I awoke.
“She's the oldest Ramanga living,” he continued. “I serve her willingly as does Silvanus. She's the one who's been looking for you after all this time.”
“So why didn't she just take the information from me when I was in Hibernation?”
“She could have killed you,” Ayden replied. “They don't want your death. You're too important.”
The waitress returned with Ayden's meal and a pot of coffee. When she left, Ayden unrolled the utensils from a napkin and—using his fork—he stabbed at the eggs and lifted it to my mouth. “Eat it.”
I still couldn’t believe what he wanted me to do. Deamhan didn't eat! We couldn't! Our sustenance was the psychic energy humans created, be it through blood or touch. When he saw that I wasn't going to eat it, he stuffed it into his mouth and began to chew. I watched, waiting for what was going to happen next. I thought he was going to explode or his body would reject the food. Instead, he continued eating until he devoured the eggs. He then went to work on the coffee.
“You chew it like you would if you were human,” he spoke. “Just remember that you have to regurgitate the food back up or it'll sit in our stomachs and rot.”
“Who taught you this?” Still in awe of the spectacle, my eyes didn't waver from him.
“My sire before he was killed.” He gulped the coffee and poured another cup. “He taught me how to blend in with the humans as much as possible. If that meant sitting down and having dinner with one, then so be it.” He pushed the cup of coffee and the plate toward me. “Go on. It won't hurt you. Later I'll show you how to regurgitate it.”
I took the fork and poked at the eggs. I stared at it for a few seconds before I placed it in my mouth and began to chew. The eggs tasted like rubber and air and before my body could gag on it, I swallowed and felt it travel down my throat. It felt odd as it traveled and eventually landed in my stomach. I felt every inch of its movement.
He smiled and grabbed the fork from me. “Easy, wasn't it?”
I nodded. “Yes, it actually was.”
He began to eat the eggs. “I've been told about your life in London and a little about your life in New York. I understand that you want nothing to do with the Curse—all of that. Once this is all over, hopefully you will get that wish.”
“I wanted all of that with Finley and Jesse by my side,” I replied. “Now, that's impossible.”
“Yes, but what's possible is the light at the end of all of this. You will get there, Maris, and for what's it's worth, I promise you that.”
After we left the cafe, Ayden taught me how to get rid of the contents in my stomach, which was easier than I expected.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
An Unexpected Surprise
During our long walk back to the sanctuary, Ayden and I continued to talk about the ongoing Deamhan problem in Chicago. He continued to speak of my important role in the situation and how my Hibernation was necessary for my survival.
I had heard enough and wanted to change the subject. I wanted to know the whereabouts of my amulet and he continued to tell me that I would soon find out. I wondered if he knew how powerful it was and if other Deamhan knew as well. Regardless, I didn't want him to suspect anything about it. When I changed the subject again and started asking about his sire, he became unusually quiet and reluctant to answer my questions.
“When were you sired?”
“I was sired in 1840,” he finally admitted. “Near London.”
My eyes expanded. “You're from London as well?”
He placed his hands in his pockets. “We should hurry back.” He prepared himself to take off in Deamhan speed, but I grabbed onto his wrist, preventing him from moving any farther.
“What's wrong?”
He removed my hand. “Nothing.”
“You're distant. Do you not like talking about your past?”
“My past isn't as vibrant as yours.” He continued to walk.
“I don't care about that.”
“Well, why do you want to know about me?”
“I'm curious.”
“Don't be.”
I found his answer to be vague and I continued to pester him. “Who killed your sire? Was it Ethel?”
“No.”
“Dorvo vampires?”
“No.”
“Then who, Ayden?”
Eventually he grew tired of my questions and turned to face me. “Your sire killed him.”
“Anastasia.” It wasn't hard to believe. After everything I learned about her and her past, I could see her killing another Deamhan. Still I wanted to know why. I wanted to know the specific details. Perhaps it was to strengthen my judgment about her. I couldn't be the only Deamhan who knew how ruthless she was.
“Why do you want to know exactly what happened?” he asked after reading my thoughts. “You know exactly how evil your sire was. My story will only strengthen your perception of her.”
“Maybe I need to know that her offspring weren't the only Deamhan damaged by her ruthlessness.” He shook his head and I could tell that he didn't want to tell me his side of the story. After more coaching and fuss on my part, he broke through his shell.
“She did it because she could,” he said. “I had only been sired for about a week when we ran into her. My sire was older, stronger, and wiser. This intimidated Anastasia and she didn't like it.”
We returned to walking down the dark road. Tall trees enclosed us on both sides. I heard the sounds of crows in their bushes and other small creatures scurrying across the ground.
“She killed him brutally a
nd I managed to escape only because...she made Finley come after me.”
“Finley?”
He stopped walking. “Yes. Finley was there. He watched everything,” Ayden looked back at me, “and he enjoyed the spectacle.”
“So this is about revenge?”
“I don't have any problem with Finley. I just don't care for his well-being as much.” He quickly corrected himself. “Actually, I don't care if he's alive or not. I do want revenge. I will kill Anastasia eventually but not now. The survival of our own species is more important than my need for revenge.”
At that moment, I knew he wouldn't go out of his way to help me get Finley back and I didn't expect him to. We remained silent for the remainder of our walk.
When we approached the steps of the sanctuary, he stopped briefly and placed his ear to the door. “Silvanus is here.” I didn't know how he knew but I accepted his statement and immediately opened the door.
I walked in. “Where is he?” I looked around, finding the inside to be quiet and vacant. The other Deamhan that I had encountered before were no longer there.
“This way.” He walked down the steps and I followed. Heading back in the direction of the wall, he placed his hand on a brick and pushed it in. It moved, revealing the same narrow passageway we walked out earlier in the night.
He trusted that I'd act and do the right thing when I'd finally come face to face with Silvanus, but I knew myself better than that. The moment my eyes locked onto him, I had no doubt that I would go into question mode and Ayden would have to hold me back.
We crouched forward, careful not to hit our heads on the low ceiling, and we made our way in. We continued, passing by my small cell on our left until the passage became narrow and darker. My eyes adjusted to it and my feet now splashed on the water on the ground about an inch high. The air turned damp, confusing my heightened senses. I couldn't pick up on anything until a flickering light signaled that we had reached the opening at the end of the tunnel.
Now able to stand straight, I realized that we weren't in a room. Instead, we stood in a moist cave with white rocky walls and a small dirty pond that looked knee-high. The sound of water running through the rocks and dripping onto the puddles below echoed through this vast area. This sanctuary amazed me with its secret locations, pathways, and now caves. This area was perfect to hide anyone from the eyes of our enemies.
Deamhan Chronicles, Books 1-5: Deamhan, Kei. Family Matters, Dark Curse, Maris. The Brotherhood Files, Ayden. Deamhan Minion Page 69